The Supreme Court on Thursday issued directions to the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to appoint senior officers tasked with overseeing the complete collection and segregation of solid waste across the National Capital Region (NCR).

A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the need for a realistic assessment of the volume of waste generated in these states. The Court instructed the NCR states to set a definitive timeline to meet the target of 100% waste collection and segregation.

To monitor progress, the Court ordered that compliance reports be submitted regularly, starting from September 1, 2025, and every quarter thereafter. The Registrar of the Supreme Court has been directed to ensure that these reports are presented before the appropriate bench handling the matter.

The Court also stressed the importance of public awareness and penal measures for effective implementation of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2016. It directed the NCR states and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to launch massive awareness campaigns to educate the public on waste management norms.

Addressing violations at construction and demolition sites, the Court noted that compliance reports had been submitted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The CAQM was directed to collect data on actions taken by the concerned authorities and file a comprehensive affidavit by September 1, 2025, covering developments up to July 2025.

In earlier hearings, the Court had already asked the MCD to initiate extensive awareness campaigns—via print, electronic, and social media—to inform bulk waste generators about their responsibilities.

The Court pointed out that these entities produce a substantial amount of waste daily and must be made aware of their obligations.

The Court specifically directed the MCD to focus on implementing Rule 4 of the SWM Rules, 2016, which mandates that all waste generators—including domestic and institutional ones—must segregate waste into biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and domestic hazardous categories and hand it over to authorized collectors.

Emphasizing that waste segregation at source is of "vital importance" to environmental protection, the Court instructed NCR states to ensure full compliance with the SWM Rules, 2016.

Furthermore, the Court directed the states to submit detailed affidavits outlining compliance by all urban local bodies (ULBs) with the 2016 Rules. These affidavits must also include comprehensive waste management plans, timelines, and the names of implementing agencies.

The Court, in previous hearings, had even contemplated imposing drastic measures such as halting construction activities, expressing dissatisfaction over the failure of the Delhi government and municipal authorities to adhere to the mandated waste management rules.

The issue of solid waste management is intrinsically linked to the broader problem of air pollution in the NCR, which remains a matter of serious concern.